Dream Science

Rocker Poole is an ordinary young bank executive in Stamford, Conn., with a young suburban family. Until, that is, he finds himself trapped in a windowless office surrounded by an exitless hallway, where he is joined daily by a taciturn, vaguely threatening computer operator named Mac. When the latter finally reveals the ``line'' through which he comes and goes from the office, which is, he says, a ``locale''--one of the many that make up a universe called Panalog--Rocker, upon penetrating the line, steps back into his former life with his family. Or does he? Moving through other lines to other existences in other locales gives breadth and depth to Rocker's existential dilemma: where is the Real World? For as long as lines and locales remain symbolic, Palmer ( The Transfer ) maintains a double grip on his readers. Though well written and inventively conceived, however, the story loses its metaphysical underpinnings when a line in downtown Stamford begins to glow, becoming visible to all, leading to the dramatic, if irresolute, conclusion of this frequently convincing but ultimately disappointing tale. (Apr.)